Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has raised the alarm about integrity concerns over the Government’s signature Future Made In Australia program.

The $22.7 billion program is the largest budget measure in this term of Parliament outside the defence portfolio, but Dr Haines said it lacked guardrails and oversight over the spending.

“There is a giant question mark where integrity and transparency measures should be in this legislation,” Dr Haines said.

“We are talking about tens of billions of taxpayer money and I want to make sure the public knows where this money is going.”

Dr Haines will move three key amendments to the Future Made in Australia Bill, saying there must be adequate transparency over the spending measures, which aim to unlock economic benefits as part of the transition to a net zero economy.

“The government has created a large bucket of money, with only a vague outline of how that money could be spent,” Dr Haines said, speaking on the Bill in Parliament.

“Without an oversight and transparency framework, there is a risk that money will be awarded to industries or companies without merit, because of lobbying efforts, because it will win votes in certain electorates, or for other reasons that generally lack integrity in government decision-making.”

“The public deserves assurance that billions of dollars of their money is being spent responsibly and with integrity, to prevent any pork barrelling occurring under this government, or indeed future governments.”

Dr Haines cited multiple organisations that have raised similar concerns, including the Productivity Commission, Climate Council, Grattan Institute and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“There are clear gaps in this Bill, if these organisations and companies – including companies who will surely seek to benefit from Future Made in Australia supports – identify shortfalls on key issues like selection criteria and transparency of funding and sector assessments.”

Pointing to her End Pork Barrelling Bill tabled in Parliament in 2023 as a way to improve integrity and oversight across the board, Dr Haines said solutions to the gaps are not hard to find.

“My End Pork Barrelling Bill provides a framework to ensure government spending of taxpayer money is done transparently, by requiring clear selection criteria for grants and creating a Parliamentary Joint Committee to oversee grant administration.”

“If my End Pork Barrelling Bill was passed, concerns about the integrity of these Future Made in Australia grants would be alleviated.”

Dr Haines wrote to the Treasurer earlier this month, expressing her concerns on the Future Made in Australia Bill and outlining her amendments, and is meeting with the Treasurer today to discuss them further.

ENDS